Automobile horn



C. N. DALBEY: AUTOMOBILE HORN. APPLICATION FILED 050.3. 1921.

1 AZKUYQ; I Patented'Aug. 22, 1922;

PATENT CHARLES N. DALIBEY, OF WI-IEATLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIG-NOR- OF ONE-HALF T0 CLARENCE J. DALBEY, 0F WHEATLAND, CALIFORNIA.

nuroraonrnn nonn.

Application filed December 3, 1921.

the movement of the fan belt for actuating a horn.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide a horn which when operated by a fan belt or other means having a variable speed, cannot be vibrated beyond a predetermined speed so that irrespective of the speed of rotation of the belt, the vibration of the horn will remain constant.

I will describe two forms of horns each embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a view showing in top plan, and partly in section, a motor vehicle engine having applied thereto one form of horn embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the horn shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detailview of the vibrating and governing means of'the horn shown in the preceding views.

Fig. 4 is a view showing in side elevation the elements shown in Fig". 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentaryenlarged detail view showing in side elevation the means for mounting the horn on the engine block.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to F ig. 1 showing another form of horn embodying my invention.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring specifically to the drawings, my invention in its first embodiment, comprises a casing K in which is journaled' a shaft S having one end projecting from the casing and provided with a friction wheel W. Within the casing, the shaft S loosely sustains the ratchet wheel R carrying pins or bolts 15 upon which are pivotally sustained semicircular arms 16 that are urged to nor- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1922.

Serial No. 519,676.

mally embrace a disc 17 by means of coil contractile springs 19 fixed at their ends to the arms in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 4. The disc 17 is fixed to the shaft S for rotation therewith, and is formed of such material that when the arms 16 are in gripping position, suflicient friction will be set up between the disc and arms to effect rotation of the arms with the disc. Inasmuch as the arms 16 are sustained on the ratchet wheel R, it will be clear that with the arms in gripping position, rotation of the ratchet wheel will be effected when the shaft Sis rotated.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a diaphragm D is provided within the casing K, and this diaphragm is disposed at right angles to the ratchet wheel R and is provided at its axis with a screw 20 threadedly fitted in a boss 21 and having its inner end pointed as indicated at 22 for engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel R. The adjustment of the screw 20 within the boss 21 ohviously permits of a variance in the position I of the pointed end 22 with respect to the teeth of the ratchet wheel R whereby the intensity with which the diaphragm D is vibrated through the medium of the ratchet wheel R- can be likewise varied. An amplifying tube T is secured to the diaphragm side of the casing K, and the free end of this tube can be enlarged and disposed at right angles as indicated at 23 in Fig. 1 for the purpose of directing the sound. forwardly with respect to the vehicle.

Referring now to Fig. 1, I have here shown a conventional form of automobile engine designated at E and including a base 24L and a fan belt 25 which as usual is arranged at the forward end of the engine. As here shown the horn is mounted for swinging movement to cause the friction wheel V7 to engage or disengage the fan belt 25 and to thereby permit of the operation of the horn at the wheel of the operator. 100

ing an arm 28 to the bolt as will be under- 1 5 stood. The arm 28 carries at its free end a pin 29, androtatably sustained on the upper end of the pin is a socket 30 constituting a part of the casing K and preferably formed integral therewith. This socket and 110 the point indicated at 33, while its free end is provided with an eye 34 in which is secured, a wire, cord or other flexible member 35. As shown in F 1 and 2 this wire is extended forwardly from the eye 34 where it is threaded about a pulley 36 suitably sustained upon the frame of the motor vehicle. From this point the wire is extendedrearwardly to a suitable point on the dash to permit con venient operation thereof by the driver of the vehicle. By, this arrangement it will be seen that by exerting a rearward pull upon the wire 35, the arm 32 will be drawn forwardly thereby swinging the horn about the pin 29 as a center until the friction wheel W engages the fan belt 25. With the engine operating and the fan belt rotating, it will be clear that upon engagement of the friction wheel with the belt that rotation ofthe former is effected. WVith the wheel W rotating,

the shaft S effects rotation ofthe disc 17, and

solong as the arms 16 are in gripping posi tion with respect tothe disc 17, the rotary motion of the shaft will be imparted to the ratchet wheel R to cause its teeth to successively engage the pointed end 22 of the screw 20. This obviously effects a vibration of the diaphragm D in securing a sounding -of the horn. The springs 19 are so adjusted that they will maintain the arms 16 in gripping position with respect to the disc 17 so long as the disc is rotating at a speed within a predetermined limit. However, when the speed of rotation exceeds this limit, centrifugal force acts upon the arms 16 to throw them outwardly against the tension of the springs 19 and into disengaging position 'with respect to the disc 17 whereby, the

ratchet wheel is disconnected from the shaft thus discontinuing the sound of the horn. It is to be understood however that as soon as the 1 speed of rotation of the ratchet wheel 1% decreases to the prescribed limit, the arms 16 again grip the disc 17 to continue the rotation of the ratchet wheel and consequently the sounding of the horn.

When rearward tension upon the wire 35 is-removed, the spring 31 obviously operates to swing the horn to an inactive position wherein the friction wheel W no longer engages the belt 25.

Referring now to Fig. 6, I have here shown a born, the construction of which is modified to permit of the positioning of the horn body at any desirable point on the vebe made herein without departing fromthe.

hicle while at the same time operating the horn from the fan belt. To this end the shaft S of the horn is provided with a flexible exdicated at 40 and in the same manner as the casing K of the first form of horn, so that the friction wheel is normally disengaged from the fan belt. The same mechanism for manually swinging the wheel W into engagement with the fan belt is provided, and it will be understood that when the friction wheel l/V engages the fan belt, a rotary motion of the shaft section 38 is imparted to the shaft Sthrough the medium of the flexibleconnection 37 thereby operating the horn in the same manner as that described in connection with the first horn.

Although I have herein shown and de scribed only two forms of horns, each embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A vibrating horn comprising a diaphragm, a shaft, a ratchet wheel having operative engagement with the diaphragm for vibrating the latter, said wheel being loosely mounted on said shaft, a speed responsive device for operatively connecting the ratchet wheel with said shaft, a wheel fixed to said shaft for actuating the latter, and means for actuating said wheel.

2. A vibrating horn comprising -a diaphragm, a shaft, a ratchet wheel having coperative engagement with the diaphragm for vibrating the latter, said wheel being loosely mounted on said shaft, a speed responsive device comprising a disc fixed to said shaft, arms pivotally "sustained on the ratchet wheel, springs for urging the arms into gripping engagement with respect to said disc, a friction wheel fixed to said shaft for, actuating the latter, and means for actuating said wheel.

3. A. vibrating horn comprising a dia--' phragm, a shaft, a ratchet wheel having operative engagement with the diaphragm for vibrating the latter, said wheel being loosely mounted on said shaft, a speed responsive device for operatively connecting the ratchet wheel with said shaft, a flexible shaft connected to said shaft, a rigid shaft section connected to the flexible shaft, a friction wheel fixed to the rigid section, and a casing for the rigid section adapted to be movably supported to allow of the engagement or disengagement of the friction wheel with respect to a fan belt. i i

i. A horn comprising a vibratory member, a shaft, means loosely mounted on the shaft adapted to engage the driven member for ac tuating the horn, and a device for disconnecting the driven member from the horn when the speed of the movable member exceeds a predetermined speed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES N. DALBEY, 

